Asymmetric transfer hydrogenation of ketones using amino alcohol and monotosylated diamine derivatives of indane

A series of 1,2-amino alcohol and 1,2-monotosylated diamine derivatives of indane have been applied as ligands in the asymmetric ruthenium(II)-catalysed transfer hydrogenation reaction of a series of ketones. Of these, the cis-1-aminoindan-2-ol derivative gives some of the highest asymmetric inductions reported for any amino alcohol ligand in this application.